milligan



(No ModeL) J. G. MILLIGAN. FIRE SHOVEL.

Patented Dec. 30, 1884.

WITNESSES .INVENTOR John aMl-w m J11} his N. PLTERS. "hclwhllmgmphnr.Washmgmm 11cv Unrrnn Srrvrns PATENT Orrrcne JOHN C. MILLIGAN, OFBROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE LALANOE & GROS- JEAN ll'IANUFAOTURING COMPANY,OF NEV YORK, N. Y. I

FlRE-SHOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,069, dated December30, 1884 Application filed October l6, lFSli. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, JOHN C. llIILLIGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Shovels, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to produce a fire-shovel from a singlepiece of metal in such a manner as to have greater strength and rigiditythan those heretofore made of the same material. i

My invention consists in stamping the shovel from a piece of sheetmetal, and in forming a strengthening-rib along each side of the blade,which ribs meet and join in the middle of the base of the handle, andextend thence preferably throughout its length.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of one form of shovelembodying my invention, and Fig. 2 represents a crosssection of thehandle. Figs. 8, 4. and 5 are like views of a slightly-different form ofshovel, illustrating a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the blade of a shovel, and B thehandle, both being formed from a single piece of metal. Across the lowerend of the blade A and along both its sides are formedstrengtheningribs, each of which is produced by enlarging the sides ofthe shovel laterally, so as to form a step or ledge, and then continuingthe sides upward, as usual, leaving lateral and vertical portions, eachserving to support the other, in the form of an L-shaped rib, a, themain portions of each uniting at the point C at the base of the handle,and continuing thence preferably along its entire length in the form ofthe ridge 1).

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the vertical portion of thestrengthening-rib is turned outward and under at or near the point O,toform the nearly-cylindrical handle B. Shown in cross-section, Fig. 2.)

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 the main portions of thestrengthening-ribs meet at the point C at the base of the handle, as inFig. 1; but, instead of turning the remaining portions outward from theblade and under,

so as to form acylindrical h.ollowhandle,they are folded outward andthen back, forming a head, a, and leaving the handle comparatively fiat,as shown in cross-section, Fi 4. The essential features, therefore, areprecisely the same as in Fig. 1; but in this constructionthe edges ofthe handle, instead of being formed nearly cylindrical, are preferablyfolded back, forming the flat-beaded handle. (Shown in section in Fig.4.) The told or bead e 0 may, if desired, be extended along the sides ofthe blade to the points ff, as shown in cross-section i n Fig. 5,thusaiio rdin g additional strengthto the shovel. It is not necessary in allinstances to extend the rib or angle across the end of the blade. Bythis method of forming a shovel the blade combines great strength withina wide surface, the angles formed by the strengtheningribs and ridgesnot only making the article very rigid, but increasing its capacity. Atthe same time the union of these ribs at the handle and the continuationof the resultant ridge along the middle of the same render that portionof the shovel which receives the greatest strain especially durable. Theextrastrength acquired by this mode of forming a shovel permits the useof a lighter grade of iron than has been generally used, thus cheapeningthe cost of the article.

I am aware that a shovel has been made having a flat bottom and upturnedsides and having a series of terraces extending in an unbroken lineentirely around the sides, and also that a shovel has been made having asingle projecting flange outward from the sides of the blade andextending partly up on the edges of the handle,and with a handle havingraised portions at the upper and lower ends,with an intermediatedepression, and I make no claim to these constructions.

I claim as my invention 1. Afire-shovel havingahollowhandle,both bladeand handle being stamped from a single piece of metal, havingastrengthening-rib extending along each side of the blade, said ribsmerging into a ridge at the middle of the handle and extendingthroughout the same.

2. Afire-shovel having ahollow handle,both blade and handle beingstamped from a single piece of metal, having L-shapcdstrengthenofnietal, having the L-shapedstrengtheninging-ribsextendingalong each side of the blade, I rib a, theridge b, and the fold 0, extending joining at the handle andextendingthronghthroughout its entire length, substantially as 15 outthe same, substantially as set forth. i described.

5 3. A shovel formed from a single piece of I In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subshcet metal, having a hollow handle, with L- scribed myname this 13th day of October, A. shaped angles or strengthening-ribsacross the 1). 1883. front edge of the blade and along each side, T i wr joining at the handle and extending along the i JOHA MI IO middle ofthe same throughout its length, snb- Wit nesses:

stantially as described. I \V. S. HoLBRooK,

I Juries OOOITRAN.

4. Afire-shovel stamped from a single piece

